Stream-Bank Erosion Inventory to be conducted by the Au Sable River Watershed Restoration Committee

Au Sable River Watershed Restoration Committee
Full Membership Meeting
October 30, 2009
Crawford County Devereaux Memorial Library

The meeting was called to order at 1:10 p.m. by Chairman Andrus.

Committee members and guests in attendance:  Bob Stuber, Glen Eberly, Mark Hendricks, Patrick Ertel, Roger Fechner, Mieka Rueger, Lloyd Troyer, Tom Buhr, and Bob Andrus.

Formal approval of February 20^th minutes and Treasurer’s Report were postponed until February 2010 meeting.  The Committee presently has a balance of about $3,000 resulting from a recent donation from the Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter of TU.

Motion to approve $500 grant to the Cedars of the Au Sable program.  Second. Passed.

The Committee selected two projects to be developed for the 2010 work year.  A watershed invasive species project that focuses primarily on eradication of purple loosestrife  and a re-inventory of stream-bank erosion.  The Invasive Species committee will be chaired by Glen Eberly and members include Jennifer Muladore, Dave Smith, and Meika Rueger.  The Stream-bank Inventory Committee will be Chaired by Bob Andrus and members include Tom Buhr, Bob Stuber, Patrick Ertel, and Mark Hendricks.  Both Committee’s will meet prior to the February meeting to develop these projects.  Anyone who would like to serve on these committee’s are encouraged to contact the Chairmen.

The two projects were selected by the Committee from a list of eight possible projects identified as high need at the February 2009 meeting.  The Committee felt the selected projects could be done in the up-coming work year and were not cost prohibitive.

Huron-Pines has applied for several grants to fund other project from the Committee’s February 2009 list.  Those include a new Au Sable Watershed-shed Management Plan (the highest priority of the Committee), Roscommon storm-water treatment, and Dam Inventory.  It was felt that education, another priority item, should be a component of all projects.  The Committee applauds Huron Pines for its dedication to the Au Sable River Watershed.

Motion to elect Tom Buhr as Chairman, Roger Fechner as Vice Chairman, and Bob Andrus as Secretary.  Seconded.  Passed.   The Treasurer’s position will be filled at the February 2010 meeting.   Congratulations Tom.

Partner project updates were given by the Restoration Committee, Huron-Pines, US Forest Service,  North Branch Restoration Committee, Au Sable Big Waters, Oscoda Conservation District, and Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter of Trout Unlimited.  The Committee 2009 Year-end Report will summarize project work by the named and other Committee partners.

Respectfully submitted,

Bob Andrus
ARWRC Secretary

Much research has been conducted through the years to demonstrate that sediment, temperature, fluctuating hydrologic flow, oils, greases and other organic compounds are pollutants which can negatively impact the Au Sable River and its tributaries. In order to reduce and/or eliminate the sources of these pollutants, the Au Sable River Watershed Restoration Committee has recently drafted a comprehensive watershed management plan. It is hoped the utilization of this plan by stakeholder organizations within the watershed will result in better coordinated and more effective efforts to maintain the integrity of the Au Sable River ecosystem, as well as help to obtain funding for implementing water quality protection projects.

Minutes

1. The meeting was called to order by Bob Andrus @ 1.10 pm

2. Members Present: Bob Andrus, Patrick Ertel, Tom Buhr, Roger Fechner, Mark Hendricks and Tom Dale. Absent, a representative from Anglers.

3. Opening discussion centered on the functions and responsibilities of the Executive Board. The Partnership Agreement was consulted and the following ideas and questions were considered:

The Au Sable River Watershed Restoration Committee is a partnership of 32 organizations and agencies dedicated to the restoration, improvement, maintenance and protection of the Au Sable River watershed. The Committee serves as an umbrella organization that coordinates the implementation of the Au Sable River Watershed Management Plan and assists its partners in the development, promotion and implementation of projects. The Committee develops programs to facilitate communication between the partners and initiates Committee sponsored restoration projects.

Reduced funding from supporting organizations and agencies has resulted in reduced river restoration activity here in the Au Sable River watershed. During the past two years, less federal and state monies have been available for maintaining high quality water found in Michigan. Also during this period, tens of thousands of dollars from many of the organizations that support Au Sable River restoration efforts have been diverted to costly court battles.